City Slicker Farms

City Slicker Farms aims to empower West Oakland community members to meet their immediate and basic need for healthy, organic food by creating high-yield urban farms and backyard gardens. Founded by a community activist in 2001, City Slicker Farms started as a half-acre vacant lot growing food at a discount for local residents. Today, the organization’s operations include three community market farms (i.e., spaces open to the public), over 300 backyard gardens, a weekly farm stand, a greenhouse, and urban farming education programs. City Slicker Farms also has a Policy Advocacy Initiative, which works to promote sustainable food systems and a green economy on a regional and statewide basis. As of 2013, City Slicker Farms partnered with residents to cultivate more than 73,000 square feet of urban landscape and produce more than 220,000 pounds of food.